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A Better Way Inc

EIN 93-1190792 · Berkeley, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DEVELOP THE INSIGHTS, LIFE SKILLS AND PERMANENT RELATIONSHIPS TO PROMOTE THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING.

Income
$14.9 million
Spending
$14.8 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 99%
Employees
156
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$212,636, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $7.8 million spent. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - IN FY 2024/2025, A BETTER WAY INC. PROVIDED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO CHILDREN, AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 0-21 IN ALAMEDA, SAN FRANCISCO, AND SOLANO COUNTIES. SERVICES WERE DELIVERED WITHIN A 90-MILE SERVICE AREA TO ENSURE TIMELY ACCESS AND MEET CLIENTS WHERE THEY ARE, USING A NO WRONG DOOR, COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH COORDINATED WITH COUNTY SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT SAFETY, PERMANENCY, AND WELL-BEING.A BETTER WAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS PROVIDES STRENGTH-BASED, FAMILY-DRIVEN, COLLABORATIVE, AND EVIDENCE-BASED/EVIDENCE-INFORMED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 0-21. OUR TREATMENT TEAM CONSISTS OF MASTER'S LEVEL CLINICIANS SUPERVISED BY LICENSED AND DOCTORAL-LEVEL SUPERVISORS, ALONG WITH FAMILY PARTNERS AND REHABILITATION SPECIALISTS.WE OFFER PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION, PSYCHOTHERAPY, AND INTENSIVE CARE COORDINATION TO SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, PLACEMENT STABILIZATION, AND PERMANENCY. SERVICES OCCUR IN COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS, INCLUDING OFFICES, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY LOCATIONS. OUR PROGRAMS OPERATE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNTY-LED SYSTEMS, ENSURING ALIGNMENT WITH LOCAL CHILD WELFARE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
  2. $3.4 million spent. SOCIAL SERVICES - SOCIAL SERVICES - DURING 2024-25, OUR SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS CONSISTED OF 4 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, THE LARGEST OF WHICH WERE THE ALAMEDA COUNTY PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM (PEP) AND THE ALAMEDA COUNTY ANOTHER ROAD TO SAFETY (ARS) PROGRAM. ADDITIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS INCLUDE, ALAMEDA COUNTY PARENT EDUCATION SERVICES (PES), AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PARENT PARTNER PROGRAM (SCPPP). THE PEP, PES AND SCPPP ARE DEDICATED TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR FAMILIES NAVIGATING THE CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS. ARS IS AN EARLY INTERVENTION / DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE SERVICE FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE AT RISK OF HAVING THEIR CHILDREN REMOVED FROM THEIR CARE DUE TO CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT SAFETY CONCERNS. THE PES PROGRAM IS A PARENTING EDUCATION SERVICE DESIGNED TO EQUIP PARENTS INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM WITH A VARIETY OF PARENTING SKILLS TO INCREASE THE PARENT'S CAPACITY TO BETTER MANAGE FAMILY ISSUES.FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25, THE PEP PROGRAM RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 149 FAMILIES REFERRED FOR SERVICES OF WHICH 99 FAMILIES WERE ENROLLED AND WORKING TOWARDS REUNIFICATION. PEP SUPPORTED PARENTS IN 418 CHILD FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS, FACILITATED 70 PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS WHICH INCLUDED 177 FATHERHOOD AND 711 PARENT LEADERSHIP PARTICIPANTS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO ATTENDED NUMEROUS OTHER COUNTY TEAM MEETINGS, PANELS, COMMITTEES, AND WORKGROUPS AND PROVIDED TRAININGS TO THE COMMUNITY. ARS HAD A TOTAL OF 277 FAMILIES REFERRED TO SERVICES OF WHICH 185 CASES WERE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM. 176 OF THOSE ARS FAMILIES WERE CLOSED SUCCESSFULLY WITH GOALS MET. 121 FAMILIES RECEIVING ARS SERVICES REPORTED THEY WERE SATISFIED. SCPPP SERVED A TOTAL OF 31 FAMILIES THROUGH OUR CASE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT WHO WERE WORKING TOWARDS FAMILY REUNIFICATION. SCPPP FACILITATED 23 SUPPORT GROUPS WITH A TOTAL OF 22 PARENT LEADERSHIP PARTICIPANTS. THE PES PROGRAM SERVED 283 PARENTS AND SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED 94 PARENTS WHO COMPLETED THE CURRICULUM SERIES. 94 PARENTS REPORTED IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR PARENTING SKILLS AND OVERALL FAMILY FUNCTIONING. 94 PARENTS REPORTED THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH THE CLASS INSTRUCTION THEY RECEIVED.
  3. $850,555 spent. PERMANENCY - A BETTER WAY INC. FOSTER FAMILY PROGRAM, A LICENSED FOSTER FAMILY AGENCY (FFA), PROVIDED FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION, AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTED CHILD SAFETY, PERMANENCY, AND WELL-BEING THROUGH REUNIFICATION, PERMANENCY PLANNING, AND ADOPTION SERVICES.DURING THE YEAR, THE PROGRAM MAINTAINED 21 APPROVED RESOURCE FAMILY HOMES AND SERVED 23 CHILDREN IN CARE. THE PROGRAM WORKED IN COORDINATION WITH COUNTY PLACING AGENCIES AND RESOURCE FAMILIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
  4. $598,409 spent. A BETTER WAY TRAINING PROGRAMS PROVIDE HUNDREDS OF COURSES ANNUALLY, FOCUSED ON IMPROVING SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INVOLVED IN CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS. TRAINING AUDIENCES INCLUDE: COURT DEPENDENT FAMILIES; SOCIAL SERVICES PROFESSIONALS; MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS; RESOURCE FAMILIES/FOSTER FAMILIES; PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS; & SYSTEM-INVOLVED YOUTH. COURSES ARE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY, THOUGH PRIORITY REGISTRATION IS GIVEN TO OUR PRIMARY INTENDED AUDIENCE; CAREGIVERS AND PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE OR PLAN TO BE INVOLVED IN LIVES OF FOSTER CHILDREN AND YOUTH. ADDITIONALLY, MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID CERTIFICATION COURSES ARE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST. 2024/25 DATA (TITLE IV-E ALAMEDA, TITLE IV-E SOLANO, ACBH TRAINING): HOURS DELIVERED: 3262.5; NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAINED: 3853; NUMBER OF COURSES PROVIDED: 420; NUMBER OF AGENCIES SERVED:286

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.